Author: Ousmane Tandja

Five journalists and a human rights defender freed after forced military enrolment In early July 2025, the Burkina Faso government released five journalists and one human rights activist who had been forcibly conscripted into the military after criticising the ruling junta. While this marks a positive step, their release also casts a harsh light on the ongoing disappearances of others—some missing since 2024—with no trace of their whereabouts. Background: arrests and forced conscription On March 24, 2024, in the capital Ouagadougou, authorities detained three members of the Burkina Faso Journalists’…

Click to expand Image Human Rights Watch has called on the authorities in Niger to grant immediate freedom to the deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum, who continues to be held in unlawful confinement two years after a military uprising removed him from office. On July 26, 2023, members of the Niger military, forming the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) under General Abdourahamane Tiani, seized power and took Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum, into custody. The couple remains confined within the presidential residence in the capital,…

Moustique Mali’s health authorities respond to emerging dengue crisis Following recent conflicts in northern Mali, the nation now faces a significant public health challenge: a dengue fever outbreak. Partager Malian health services are currently on high alert. Dengue, a debilitating mosquito-borne illness, has been detected within the country. This condition is frequently misdiagnosed as malaria due to their overlapping symptoms, and it often remains unnoticed in Africa. However, it has now been officially identified within Mali, with 12 confirmed cases reported across several municipalities in Bamako, as well as in…

The current immunization results in Mali fall short of expectations. While the national authorities set an ambitious goal to vaccinate 70% of the population aged 12 and older, the actual coverage rate has stagnated at approximately 8%. In response to this gap, a United Nations delegation visited the country in early October to assist the government in aligning with the objectives of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (PNDV). “A variety of campaigns are currently in progress. Our mission is to collaborate with the government and its partners to strengthen…

Mali’s groundbreaking HPV vaccine initiative to protect generations of women In a historic move for public health, the Malian government has integrated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program. Launched in early November in Bamako with participation from Gavi, international partners, and health officials, this initiative represents a major milestone in combating cervical cancer among Malian women. The HPV vaccine marks a turning point in Mali’s healthcare landscape, offering hope to millions of women who have long suffered from this preventable disease. For many Malian women, cervical…